To Carmel Fire Department Public Education Officer Renee Butts, the SAFE House in the Carmel Clay Community Building has "unlimited potential."
Within its walls, visitors of all ages can be immersed in a variety of scenarios, from a house fire to an ambulance ride and even how to safely navigate a roundabout. The goal is that those experiencing the simulations in a controlled environment will know what to do if faced with similar circumstances in real life.
"What I'm hoping is that if they're ever in a terrible situation, it'll just click," Butts said. "(They'll know), 'I can't open that door,' or 'I know what firefighters sound like. I'm not going to be afraid when I see them.'"
The SAFE House, which stands for Stay Alive Family Education, includes several areas designed like a home, such as a bedroom, where harmless smoke can be pumped in and the doorknob checked for heat; a kitchen, where guests can learn about stove and microwave safety; and a utility room, complete with a hot water heater, panel box and washer and dryer.
Video projections show fires or a tornado, and speakers add sound to make the experience more realistic. Videos also can be projected onto the floor, including one that shows a roundabout and gives visitors the chance to practice safely crossing the intersection. Bloomington-based Blockhouse Studios, which created the Palladiscope light shows, designed the audiovisual presentations in the SAFE House.
The space also has an area designed to look like the inside of an ambulance and the cab of a retired firetruck for an up-close look at both types of vehicles.
"We can sit a bunch of kids in (the ambulance), and we can talk about all kinds of different things that happen in the ambulance," Butts said. "For older kids that are thinking about a career in EMS, we can do different scenarios."
The SAFE House is expected to begin welcoming class field trips in early 2025. Tim Griffin, CFD public information officer, said he would like to see the school visits inspire families to implement or improve safety practices.
"My hope is it starts conversations at the dinner table, so moms and dads and brothers and sisters are all talking about their fire plan," he said.
Other groups encouraged to visit the SAFE House include assisted living residents, students preparing to head off to college and families.
Griffin said the SAFE House allows CFD to be proactive in preventing tragedies.
"They may prevent the emergency from happening with what they do here," he said. "And with that, they're going to save lives. At the end of the day, that's what we got into this job to do."
There is no cost to visit the space. Butts said she is working to create a foundation to help pay for maintenance and additional programming for the SAFE House. Once the foundation is launched, which Butts hopes will be in early 2025, donations will be tax deductible.
To learn more about the foundation or to make a donation, contact Butts at 317-571-4245 or [email protected].
A community partnership
The SAFE House is part of the Carmel Clay Community Building at 210 Veterans Way, which also includes the Carmel Fire Department headquarters, Carmel Fire Buffs Museum and 210 Midtown event venue. The building was constructed on the site of CFD's first headquarters, which operated there from 1950 to the late 1980s.
Clay Township funded the majority of the building, providing nearly $12.8 million for the project. The Carmel Redevelopment contributed $1 million, the Koorsen family gave $500,000 and another private donor provided $300,000.
A grand opening celebration for the building was held in August.
"The Carmel Clay Community Building not only honors our past with its location on the site of our original fire headquarters but also represents a significant leap forward in public safety and community engagement," stated Mayor Sue Finkam. "This state-of-the-art facility is a testament to the collaborative spirit of Carmel Clay Township, the City of Carmel, and our dedicated private donors. We are excited to see how this space will enhance our ability to serve and educate our community."
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